Electrode holder



Nov. 30, 1954 T. s. DONNELLY, JR 2,695,944

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Dec. 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l F/Gl. 25

NOV. 30, 1954 DQNNELLY, JR 2,695,944

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed D90. 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7/7a/745Sfi n n E44/Je arrbkM 1954 T. s. DONNELLY, JR 2,695,944

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Dec. 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG /1 INVENTOR. 7;0/V/65' Sway/ 214 .26,

United States Patent ELECTRODE .HOLDER 4 ThomasSJ-Donnelly, infiDeti-oit; Mich. 'AppIicationL'December114, 1951, Serial N0. =261,727

:13\,Glaims. 1(Cl. 219-8) Myinvention relates-to awnew and-usefulv improvement win an :electrodevholdersused :for. electric :arc welding.

-.In-' thenuseoft electrode i'holders in .gelectric arc Welding operationsi-the electroderis clamped between 'a parrot njaws :andfithese .jaws wear out and burn out before the -rernainder oft-hecelectrode Lholderhas suffered much wear. It is acommonzl'practice to; provide: the jaws, at

the electrode pengagingrportion, With;:& removable electrode. engaging :plate. These; plates are. generally. screwed 'ontothe jaw proper which :,-serves as-a: retainer fonthe :plates. The screws-'alsoibecome damagedrin the welding operation so that-it frequently: :is JdiifiCUit, andsometimes impossible, to remove the .screws-so' thatzthe; plates-may be: replaced. It"iS-:an ob ectrof-.the;@resent=mvention to provide ,an: electrode holder -:so arranged and constnucted that. thegelectrode engagingrplatevor plates: may be easily and'quickly removedand replaced.

Another objectionable :feature with the removable plates is 'thatfrequently: there: (is a poor contact between the, plates and the?retainer'on which the plate, is mounted and WhiChiSfilVCS as .ithe. conductorgof; electricity. 1 It is an object of the, present invention to providea: construction whereby .a' close-.contactmay be maintaine'dat all times I between the removable plate-andthe electricity. conducting portion, thus assuring-agood contact with the inherent advantages.

Another. object-of: the-invention. is theprovision of, a constructionwhereby: aremovable plate may. beused and the conducting cable- 'seeured in engagement with the .plate sotzas to underlie vthe-surface of the -plate-engaged by the -elec-tr0de.-and-..:to utilize the means which serves to secure the cable in positionfoneffectinga bindingf the removable platoon .the retaining portion.

Other. objectswill appear hereinafter.

:lt: isrecognized that various modifications andschanges may be made in. the .details. of.- structure illustrated-with- .out departing fromethe. invention and it is: intended that the-present disclosure shall be considered'but the; preferred embodiment.

Forming a part of I this application 1 are .-dra-wings. in which: 4 I V 1 High 1. :is a side elevational'view. of an, .electrode holder with the invention applied,

Fig. 2. is affront. elevational ,view .0f:-the electrode holder shown in Fig; 1,

3 Fig... 3..is a fragmentary sectional "view taken von .line

Fig. 4isa. sectionaLview taken on line- 4-4 of Rig. 1, Fig. 5,.is-a perspective view ofthe hajndle retainer used in theinvention,

Fig. 6 israsperspective aview 130i. a! removable; jaw or clamping plate used in the invention,

r Fig! 7: is.: a1 sectionalc'view-..sirnilar.: toFig. 4: showing a modification,

, Fig: S is a rsectionalirviewwsimilar'rto -Fig. .41. showing .a

= furtheremodification,

."Fig. 9::isa.sectional viewzztakenroniline '9 9.of Fig. 1, Fig. .lOcisj atsectional-rview taken'on lineblO-IO of 5 Fig. 3,

1 Fig- 11 --is a sectional view similan-zto Fig-*4 showing a further modified' form,

Fig. E isa-fragmentary sectional-view ta'ken'on' line 1a 12 of Fig. 11, a

"Fig. l3ris-'a fiewysiniilarto lfigfl l li showing" a slight and that it is fixed on-the retaining portion 20 solely by the pressure referred to.

the screws "37 and '38. .The memberg29 may then be ,movedlongitudinallyflforwardly of .the retainer .20 and trough-shaped member 20. A xtionedibeneath the "bared end of this cable and is engaged 2,695,944 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 Fig. 14is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3

. showing a modification,

= ig. 15 is a -;.sectional 1view taken on -.line -15-15 of Fig. 14,

:Fig. 1-6 :isa-view-similar t0';F. g.115 illustrating the part shown in Fig. 6 as mounted on-a; solid body,

Fig. 17is a;.sectional-view: similar to Fig. 13 but'showing some ofythe parts in reverse position. 0

=In. the drawings I;haveillustrated the invention as embodying a rigid handle supporting member comprising the oppositely,disposedsidetplates 15 -andr16 connected at their ,rearends-by the annulus 17,,projecting upwardly .from'which -is.a-stud;18. These plates 15 and-16 are connected at their forward endsyto a tubular. portion 19, projecting outwardly from which: is1a trough-shaped member 'whichmay be designated-generally.by the numeral 20.

Projecting upwardly from this tubular portion-19 is a lug -21- onwhich isrpivotally:mounted, by means of the. pin 329e, :a. handle 22 .having .the;-jaw forming. portion '28, which may also serveas a retainer for a removable plate. .The handle- 22 iscovered' by a layer 23 of suitable insulating material having the ,forwardly directed. portion 230, which-alsoserves .tov cover the; jaw. or jawv retainer. Projecting through this layer- 23 ofinsulatingmaterial; from the handle 22,.-.is a.stud 24, which projects through the end of. an insulating cup-:25 which telescopes with the. cup .26, into-whioh isprojected the stud 18. .These cups. serve to encloseathespring. 27: =which.serves; to normally retain 1 the clamping jaws in clamping relation.

Therremovablepplate.29..isprovided on its face with a ,plurality of: grooves .30 .in .which' the :electrode. may en- -,gage, so that the. angleof the;extension of the electrode from the. clamping. jaws may bedetermined. .This member 29 may be termed a removable jaw or a removable plate. As: shownin Fig/6, it is provided with the oppo- .sitely disposedvwallsBl and 32. The member .20 is also ;-provided with the: oppositely disposed walls 133 and .34, asclearly seem in Fig. Z andin-Fig. 5. The inner surfaces .of the-walls-31 .and 32.conform to the curvature'of the. outer. surfaces of :the walls'33 .and' 34. The construc- 1 tion is such that :the plate 29 maybeslipped longitudinally from the forwar'dend onto .the :member- 20. into the position shown in Fig.2 and Fig. 4.

The cablei-SS, which isuconnected to the welding machineandserves to conducththezwelding current, is proected through the annulus;17-.and the;bared end thereof isproje'ctedthroughthetubular. portion 19 and into the presser clip :36. is posiby screws 37 and 38 threaded through'the bottom of the member 20. When these screws are threaded inwardly they will force: .the presser clip 36 to move the cable into engagement with the-surface 62 of the member 29. This surface-"62 together with' the space 61 of the member 20 provides a: passagefor reception of the bared end of the closer engagement with fthewalls 33-and 34, so" that a tlght contacti is -thus'-'provided andarcingbetween the members 131 and33 and the members 32and 34 is avoided. "This pressurealso serves to bindthe member 29fixedly on the trough-shaped member 20, which serves as a retainer for this. removable jaw. It will be noted that there are-no screws threaded intothe member 29 When it" becomes desirable to remove the member 29 and replaceit with a new. electrodeengaging portion, it 1s but'necessary'torelieve the pressure by backing out replaced with a new plate.

111301116 instances. it is desirable to have the clamping jaws insulated. and for this purpose I have provided the trough-shaped insulating member ,40 having ltheopenings 39 formed therethrough to render the screws 37 and 38 easily accessible. If desired the member 40 may be prevented from longitudinal movement on the member 20 by means of the screw 41 threaded into the member 20. However, this longitudinal movement may also be avoided by forming one or both of the screws 37 or 38 of suificient length to project into the openings 39 when these screws are in cable pressing position. It will be noted also that the insulation 40 is trough-shaped and that it embraces the walls 31 and 32 and that the space between the opposed longitudinal edges of the member 40 is less than the transverse width of the walls 31 and 32 covered by the member 40, so that radial movement of the member 40 onto or off of the forward end of the structure is impossible and the only way that the member 44) may be mounted in position is by longitudinal slidable movement rearwardly from the forward end of the holder. As shown in Fig. 4, this insulating member 40 is provided with openings 42 which serve as ventilating openings to permit the forward end of the holder to radiate heat.

A handle 43 is mounted on the holder retaining portion embodying the plates 15 and 16 and the annulus 17 and the tubular member 19. This handle 43 is provided with a slot 44 for accommodating the stud 13 as the handle is slid onto the handle retaining portion from the rear end. The handle is also provided with ventilating slots 45 and ventilating openings 46.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a slight modification. The

member 29a corresponds to the member 29 of the form already described and is provided with the opposite side walls 31a and 32a adapted for slidable movement onto the walls 33a and 34a. These walls 31a and 32a are cutaway as at 48 and the walls 33a and 34-11 are cutaway as at 49 to provide the inter-engaging shoulders i) and 51. These two cooperating parts provide the cable receiving spaces 59 and 60 and the cable is secured in the manner already described.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a further modification in which the member 2% corresponds to the member 29 of the first form described. Extending outwardly from the member 2% are the walls 31b and 32b. The member 2012 is provided with the walls 34b and 33b. The walls 31b and 321) are provided with the inner surfaces 54 and 55, which bear against the outer surfaces of the walls 33b and 34b. These members 29b and 2912, by the spaces 57 and 58, provide a passage for the reception of the bared end of the cable and the insulation 56 is slid longitudinally onto the structure. The cable is secured in the manner already described and the pressure exerted against the cable will cause the parts to move into close contact, inasmuch as they cannot be separated by a radial movement. form shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a modified form in which the parts 28 and 23a are as described as the form shown in Fig. l. The part 29c corresponds to the jaw 29. The

This also, of course, applies to the,

modification in Fig. ll consists primarily in forming the part shown in Fig. 6 without the separation or space 47,

so that instead of the separate walls 31 and 32 shown in Fig. 6 a loop or annulus 65 is formed on the jaw 29c. Formed in the under surface of the jaw 290 is a recess 66 which, together with the space in the trough Zlic, corresponding to the part indicated. generally by the numeral in Fig. 5, provides a space for the bared end of the cable which is clamped by the presser clip 36 engaged by the screw 38 which passes through an opening 66 formed in the loop 65 and which is threaded into the trough-shaped member 200. respond respectively to the walls 33 and 34 in the form illustrated in Fig. l. The insulation c corresponds to the insulation 40.

In the form shown in Fig. 13 the structure is the same as that shown in Fig. 11,- except that the screw 38 instead of threading into the trough 20d projects through an enlarged opening 67 formed therein and threads into the rib 68 formed on the loop or ring 65. In this form when the screw 38 is threaded inwardly the bared end 35 of the cable will be pressed against the under surface of the electrode engaging jaw a. This secures the ring 65 and jaw 65a in fixed relation to the cable. The bared end 35 of the cable is, in this squeezing or pressing operation, flattened out so that it is forced into tight frictional contact with the side faces of the trough 20d so that the trough-shaped member also is thus fixed relatively to the The walls 330 and 34c cor- 4 bared end 35 of the cable. Moreover the projection of the screw 38 through the opening 67 retains the members 65 and 20d in fixed longitudinal relation, as there is but a slight clearance between the screw 38 and the open' ing 67.

In Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 I have shown a slight modification illustratingparticularly the use of a replaceable jaw. In this structure the electrode holder consists of a metallic shank 167 having a well or socket 68a formed therein into which is inserted the bared end of the cable 35 against which is forced the presser clip 36 acted upon by the screws 69. This metallic shank 167 is embraced by the forward end of a handle 70 formed from fiber or other suitable insulating material. Cups 25a and 26a enclose a spring 27a. One of these bears against the handle 70 and the other bears against the handle 72. This handle 72 is pivoted at 71 and carries at its forward end an upper jaw 28a, so that the spring serves to normally retain the parts rocked to the position shown in Fig. 14. A layer 23 of insulating material covers the handle 72 and an extension 23a of this layer of insulating material covers the upper jaw 28a. The handle is pivoted as at 71 on the lug 21a. A lower jaw 72:: is provided with a loop or ring 73 corresponding in structure to the jaw and loop or ring shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 13. This jaw, together with the loop or ring, may be considered a tubular body with a jaw on one side of the tubular portion. This tubular member is fitted over the reduced end 74 of the shank 167 and is held in position thereon by means of the screws 75, which also serve to retain the layer 76 of insulating material in position.

With electrode holders having a solid retaining body, such as shown, attempts have been made to secure the electrode engaging jaw thereon so that it may be removed when worn out. This has generally been attempted to be accomplished by forming the electrode engaging portion or jaw in the form of a plate and screwing the plate onto the metallic retainer which corresponds to the jaw 74 shown in Fig. 14. This has proven unsatisfactory in view of the fact that the screws used to retain the plate in position become welded or frozen to the metallic supporting part. With the present invention the tubular jaw embodying the parts 72a and 73 may he slid longitudinally onto the member 74 and the retaining screws are not in such a position that they are likely to be welded or come into contact with the weld splatter.

In Fig. 16 I have shown the jaw, constructed as illustrated in Fig. 6, snapped onto a solid body with the retaining screws projecting inwardly from opposite sides and covered by the layer of insulation 82. The jaw 29 with the side walls 31 and 32 are slid longitudinally onto the body 74a. This construction may be a snug or press fit but it is preferred that it be a snug fit and that screws be used to secure the jaw on the retaining body.

In Fig. 17 I have shown the upper jaw 92 provided with the layer 230 of insulation. A lower jaw 93 is carried by the tubular member 94 into which is slipped the bared end 95 of the cable which is clamped therein by means of the presser clip 96 and the screw 97. The trough-shaped member embodying the side walls 33d and 34d corresponds to the trough-shaped member shown in Fig. 4, excepting that this trough is positioned on the outside of the tube 94. This construction may be said to be the same as that shown in Fig. 11 or Fig. 13 except that the parts are reversed. A layer 98 of insulating material embraces the trough-shaped member and an opening 99 is formed in the insulating materialfor registering with an opening 99a formed in the trough, so that access to the screw 97 may be had through these openings.

What I claim is:

1. In an electrode holder of the class described having a jaw retainer, a jaw; a pair of side Walls, one side wall being at each of the opposite sides of said jaw and projecting outwardly from one face thereof and said walls terminating at their free edges in spaced relation to each other, said jaw being slidable longitudinally onto said retainer and said side walls being spaced-apart inwardly of their free edges a greater distance than at their free edges and the width of said retainer inwardly of the free edges of said walls being greater than the space between the opposed edges of said walls.

2. In an electrode holder a handle supporting portion; a trough-shaped retainer projecting forwardly of said handle supporting portion; an electrode engaging jaw;

an embracing portion on said jaw for embracing said retainer, there being a space between the bottom of said trough-shaped retainer and the opposed face of said jaw for reception of a conducting cable; a pressure exerting element carried by said retainer for exerting pressure against said cable and forcing the same against said opposed face of said jaw for establishing close contact of the same with said cable.

3. In an electrode holder of the class described, a passage bearing retainer to provide a passage for the reception of the bared end of an electric cable; an electrode engaging jaw for engaging at its upper face an electrode; oppositely disposed spaced-apart side walls on said jaw for projecting outwardly from the lower face thereof for sliding onto said retainer in telescopic relation, said jaw and said retainer being non-detachable radially after movement of the same into telescopic relation; and a pressure exerting element for pressing the bared end of said cable into close contact with the lower face of said aw. 1 4. In an electrode holder of the class described, a handle supporting member; a jaw retaining portion projecting forwardly from said supporting member; an electrode engaging jaw for engaging at one of its faces an electrode; an embracing portion on said jaw for embracing said retaining portion upon slidable movement thereon longitudinally thereof; and a presser element for exerting pressure between said retainer and said embracing portion for securing said retainer and said jaw in fixed relation to each other.

5. In an electrode holder of the class described a retaining portion; a jaw for engaging at one of its faces an electrode; and an encircling band on said jaw for embracing said retainer, said encircling band and said retainer being adapted for movement longitudinally into telescopic relation.

6. In an electrode holder of the class described, a trough-shaped retainer open at one side and adapted for the reception of the bared end of an electric cable; an electrode engaging jaw for engaging at one of its faces an electrode; side walls projecting outwardly from opposite edges of the opposite face of said jaw, said jaw being adapted for movement into telescopic relation with said retainer and forming a closure for said open side; and inter-engaging portions on said side walls and said retainer for preventing radial relative movement of said jaw and said retainer after movement of said side walls into telescopic relation with said retainer while permitting free longitudinal movement of said jaw and said retainer and means for pressing said bared end of said cable radially of said trough-shaped retainer into engagement with one face of said jaw.

7. In an electrode holder of the class described, a jaw retaining member; an electrode engaging jaw for engaging at one of its faces an electrode; a tubular portion ex tending outwardly from the opposite face of said jaw and slidable onto said retainer in embracing relation thereto.

8. In an electrode holder of the class described, a jaw retaining member; an electrode engaging jaw for engaging at one of its faces an electrode; a tubular portion extending outwardly from the opposite face of said jaw and slidable onto said retainer in embracing relation thereto; and threaded means for securing said retaining portion and said tubular member in fixed relation.

9. In an electrode holder of the class described a jaw retaining member; an electrode engaging jaw for engaging, at one of its faces, an electrode; an embracing portion carried by said jaw and projecting outwardly from the opposite face thereof and slidable longitudinally onto said retaining member, there being a space between the opposed faces of said jaw and said member for reception of an electric cable; and a threaded member threaded into said retaining member for exerting pressure against said cable and forcing the same against said opposed face of said jaw and delivering a thrust thereto for normally tending to move said jaw into separated relation with said retaining member and clamping said embracing portion against said retaining member.

10. In an electrode holder of the class described, a jaw retaining member; an electrode engaging jaw for engaging, at one of its faces, with an electrode; an embracing portion carried by said jaw and extending outwardly from its opposite face and slidable longitudinally onto said retaining member in embracing relation thereto, said embracing portion and said retaining member being nondetachable except upon longitudinal relative movement, there being a space between the opposed face of said retaining member and said opposite face of said jaw for reception of an electric cable; and threaded means for exerting pressure on said electric cable for forcing the same into close engagement with said opposite face of said jaw.

11. In an electrode holder of the class described, a trough-shaped retaining portion open at one side, the opposite edges of said open side being spaced apart and the width of said retainer inwardly from said opposite edges being greater than the space between the opposite edges; a jaw for engaging, at one of its faces, an electrode; a tubular portion projecting from another face of said jaw and slidable longitudinally into said troughshaped portion from one end thereof for securing said jaw on said trough-shaped portion in fixed radial relation thereto.

12. In an electrode holder of the class described, a trough-shaped retaining portion open at one side, the opposite edges of said open side being spaced apart and the width of said retainer inwardly from said opposite edges being greater than the space between the opposite edges; a jaw for engaging, at one of its faces, an electrode; a tubular portion projecting from another face of said jaw and slidable longitudinally into said trough-shaped portion from one end thereof for securing said jaw on said trough-shaped portion in fixed radial relation thereto, the space between the opposite edges of said trough-shaped portion being less than the diameter of said tubular portion.

13. In an electrode holder of the class described, a trough-shaped retaining portion open at one side, the opposite edges of said open side being spaced apart and the width of said retainer inwardly from said opposite edges being greater than the space between the opposite edges; :a jaw for engaging, at one of its faces, an electrode; a tubular portion projecting from another face of said jaw and slidable longitudinally into said trough-shaped portion from one end thereof for securing said jaw on said trough-shaped portion in fixed radial relation thereto, the space between the opposite edges of said troughshaped portion being less than the diameter of said tubular portion, said trough-shaped portion and said tubular portion having registering openings formed therein, and said tubular portion being adapted for the reception of the bared end of a cable; and threaded means in said openings and pressing said end of said cable against the inner surface of said tubular portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,003,196 Jackson May 28, 1935 2,056,045 Fausek et al. Sept. 29, 1936 2,179,440 Wagner Nov. 7, 1939 2,358,220 Donelly, Jr Sept. 12, 1944 2,373,605 Shellabarger Apr. 10, 1945 2,387,888 Donelly, Jr. Oct. 30, 1945 2,412,492 Brazitis Dec. 10, 1946 2,415,671 Camilleri Feb. 11, 1947 2,449,370 Donnelly Sept. 14, 1948 2,455,108 Beauregard Nov. 30, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 571,035 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1945 

